Resilience and psychiatric epidemiology: Implications for a conceptual framework

Christchurch Health and Development Study, University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand. joseph.boden@otago.ac.nzgeraldine.mcleod@otago.ac.nz
http://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/healthdevelopment/otago014217.html
http://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/psychmed/ourpeople/otago036449.html

Kalisch and colleagues present a conceptual framework for the study of resilience, using a neurobiological approach. The present commentary examines issues arising for the study of resilience from epidemiological data, which suggest that resilience is most likely a normative function that may operate as a kind of psychological immune system. The implications of the epidemiological data on the development of a neurobiological theory of resilience are discussed.